Folding hinge



A. L. F RYER FOLDING HINGE Aug, 1%, 1924.

Filed May 31 1923 Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

ARTHUR L. FRYER, OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING HIlINGE.

Application filed May. 31, 1923. Serial No. 642,653.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. F 11mm,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Glendale, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Folding Hinges,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hinges.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, substantial and veryinexpensive form of hinge structure.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the followingspecification of embodiments of the invention illusthe accompanyingdrawings,

trated in wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective of portions of membersadapted to be folded flatwise one upon the other.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the folded members connected by the improvedhinge.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a modifield formof the hinge providing for a quarter turn.

The hinge is shown as connecting board members 1 and 2 in such mannerthat they can be laid fiatwise one on the other.

The hinges are preferably of right and left hand form, and each hingeincludes a pair of flat leaves 3, perforated to receive screws l bywhich the leaves may be securedin a common plane along the edges, whichmay be countersunk, of the boards 1 and 2. Each leaf 3 has a squarecorner 3*, and the leaves are pivoted on pins or screws 5, driven intoan intermediate folding block 6, extending transversely between thecontiguous ends of the boards 1-2 and abutting the end edges of theboards when the latter are extended, as in Figure 1, into a commonplane.

On each end of the intermediate block 6 is secured a flat link member 7,with upper, curved corners 7. Each link 7, through which the screws 5,forming the hinge pivots, pass into the ends of the block 6, ispartially countersunk in the contiguous ends of the leaves 3, which arerebated at 3 a depth equal to the thickness of the link 7, which thusconnects the leaves? 3 of each hinge. The leaves have upper,

rounded, contiguous corners 3, adapted to substantially rollgear-fashion about their pivot screws 5 when the board members 1-2 areswung open or closed.

During the unfolding action, the intermediate block 6 swings on onecoaxial set of pivot screws until the block is in the plane of one ofthe board members, and the other member is further moved on its ownpivot screws until the board members assum a position, as in Figure 1,in a common plane, at which time the corner shoulders 3, whose edges aretangent to.

the curves, 3, abut each other and thus sus tain the unfolded members ina common plane. 1

Since the intermediate block has'a relative pivotal action 'on eachcoaxial set of screws 5 of the hinge, the inner, trans verse edges oftheboard members 1 and 2 are cylindricallyconcaved' as at 8, so that thetransverse corners of the block'can sweep in an are on the axis of itspivot screws.

The screws are shown as provided with bushings 10, fitting the aperturesin the leaf ends, and providing sbstantial supports and ample area ofcontact for an efficient bearing.

A modified form of the device is shown in Figure 4., wherein the leaves3 are connected directly one on the other by a pivot screw 5; thecontiguous ends of the leaves being rebated at 3 so that the leaf endsoverlap. Each leaf end has a tangential corner 3* which will turn intoengagement variations may be resorted to within the I principle of theinvention.

That is claimed is:

l. A hinge structure comprising hinge leaves having tangential, abuttingedges merging into rounder corner edges, pivots for the contiguous leafends arranged in parallelism and so disposed that the tangential edgesof the hinge leaves will abut end when the leaves are moved intoalignment block adja ent the contiguous ends of the hinges and'to whichsaid links are attached by said pivots.

2. A hinge structure comprising hinge leaves having tangential, abuttingend edges merging into rounded corner edges, pivots for the contiguousleaf ends arranged in parallelism and so disposed that the tangentialedges of the hinge leaves Will abut when the le'aves are moved intoalignment in ,a common plane, and an intermediate link mortisedinto thecontiguous ends of theleaves, said leaves being adapted for attachmentto opposite, parallel edges of foldable members, and a folding,intermediate block adja'cent the-coi itiguous ends of the hinges and toWhich said links are attached by said pivots, the said block forming afolding connection between theileave s of a hinge to permit the leavesto be folded edge toledge.

1 3. In combination, a pair of plane, foldable members adapted to befolded flatWise one ion the other an intermediate block disp'osedt'ransversely to said members and to occupyan intermediate positionbetween the members when they are extended into a common plane, andpairs of hinges attached to opposite, parallel edges of said members andpivotally attached to sets of pivots in the ends of the interi'nediateblock,

so thatthe latter forms a folding connection between said members andalso between said hinges, the contiguous ends of said members beingconcaved to permit the corners of the intermediate block rotating onaligned axes of the pivots.

In testimony whereof I have signed name to this specification.

ARTHURiL. FRYER.

